Our team

CEO

Bob Cornell has over 25 years experience working in the charitable field, where he brings and applies his extensive knowledge to Westminster Befriend a Family (WBAF) since 2014.

Bob’s involvement with WBAF goes way back. He first connected with WBAF through is work as a Grant Assessor, and later served a part time interim position in May 2014 before coming the CEO in October.

Family Befriending Coordinator

Nisha Subasinghe joined the team in March 2016. Her role focuses on supervising and training our befriending volunteers.

Our Trustees

In addition to their work for the board, our trustees participate in and chair a number of finance, fundraising, volunteer and human resources subcommittees. Our trustees endeavour to remain visible to our volunteers and families, often working with families themselves, or attending monthly supervision sessions.

Noreen Sumra joined the Board as Chair in December 2017. Noreen is a solicitor specialising in employment law, currently on a career break. She has served as a Chair of a BME Housing Association and also of a charity providing reading mentors to primary schools in Berkshire.

Rob Whitehouse is a chartered management accountant ‎(CGMA) with over 8 years post qualification experience. In addition to 2 years at an audit firm he has over 10 years experience working in various financial reporting and change management roles at Bank of America.

Helen Burrluck is a Chartered Accountant and worked as a tax accountant for many years. She spent the last fifteen years of her working life heading up the admin function of law firms. As well as being a trustee at BAF she volunteers as a money management mentor for a national charity.

Chris Grove is a founding partner at Forster Chase, where he runs the board practice, recruiting C-level executives and non-executive directors. He brings valuable insight into the business sector.

Father Owen Higgs is a vicar at St Gabriel’s Church in Pimlico, Westminster. He previously worked as a care worker for Scope, a charity supporting disabled people, and as a Chartered Accountant.

Vicky Kafetzi is a communications and engagement specialist working in the transport sector. She has over 11 years experience of providing strategic advice, to create the best environment for delivery of projects and operations that keep our great city moving. She also mentors and coaches young professionals.

Sasjkia Otto is a strategic foresight specialist who currently works in Whitehall. Her experience in the voluntary sector spans fundraising, policy, outreach, and management, including for national NGOs. She’s been lucky to have networks supporting her beyond her circumstances growing up; she joined WBAF after volunteering at the Samaritans and as a school reading partner, where she saw how important this could be for other young people’s futures.

Sabrina Vashisht is a fundraiser and communications officer for the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre, an international legal NGO. She has extensive experience of applying for and managing grants. Sabrina also volunteers for BAF in her spare time, and as a Russian-English translator for the BEARR Trust. She joined the Board in October 2017.